The effects of gonadectomy, testosterone and estrogen on the dopamine (DA) neurons were examined by measuring the concentrations of DA and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in the brain and pituitary of male tilapia. The tuberal area and the pituitary had significantly high levels of DA and low levels of DOPAC, indicating the existence of a rich dopaminergic innervation in these areas. Gonadectomy and sex steroid replacement had no effect on DA and DOPAC levels. Preoptic lesions (14 days survival period) significantly increased DA levels of the pituitary, indicating a possible existence of a preoptico-hypophysial neural system that inhibits pituitary DA synthesis in tilapia. The lack of effect by preoptic (4 days survival period) and posterior hypothalamic lesions on the DA content of the pituitary indicates the absence of dopaminergic innervation of the pituitary by the preoptic and the posterior hypothalamus. Instead, the overall results do suggest the anterior periventricular area as a possible source of pituitary dopaminergic innervation.